A film being made in Warsaw, Bracka street

Filmmaking (often referred to in an academic context as film production) is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program. Filmmaking takes place all over the planet in a huge range of economic, social, and political contexts, and using a variety of technologies and cinematic techniques. Typically, it involves a large number of people, and takes from a few months to several years to complete, although it may take longer if there are production issues, and the record for the longest production time for a major film is The Thief and the Cobbler's 28 years development.

Parts[link]

Film production occurs in three stages:^[1]

• Pre-production—Preparations are made for the shoot, in which cast and film crew are hired, locations are selected, and sets are built. This is also the stage in which the lol ideas for the film are created, rights to books/plays are bought, etc.
• Production—The raw elements for the finished film are recorded.
• Post-Production—The film is edited; production sound (dialogue) is concurrently (but separately) edited, music tracks (and songs) are composed, performed and recorded, if a film is sought to have a score; sound effects are designed and recorded; and any other computer-graphic 'visual' effects are digitally added, all sound elements are mixed into "stems" then the stems are mixed then married to picture and the film is fully completed ("locked").

Development[link]

In this stage, the project's producer finds a story, which may come from a book, play, another film, a true story, original idea, etc. After identifying a theme or underlying message, the producer works with writers to prepare a synopsis. Next they produce a step outline, which breaks the story down into one-paragraph scenes that concentrate on dramatic structure. Then, they prepare a treatment, a 25-to-30-page description of the story, its mood, and characters. This usually has little dialogue and stage direction, but often contains drawings that help visualize key points. Another way is to produce a scriptment once a synopsis is produced.

Next, a screenwriter writes a screenplay over a period of several months. The screenwriter may rewrite it several times to improve dramatization, clarity, structure, characters, dialogue, and overall style. However, producers often skip the previous steps and develop submitted screenplays which investors, studios, and other interested parties assess through a process called script coverage. A film distributor may be contacted at an early stage to assess the likely market and potential financial success of the film. Hollywood distributors adopt a hard-headed business approach and consider factors such as the film genre, the target audience, the historical success of similar films, the actors who might appear in the film, and potential directors. All these factors imply a certain appeal of the film to a possible audience and hence the number of "A.I.S." (or "Asses in Seats") during the theatrical release. Not all films make a profit from the theatrical release alone, so film companies take DVD sales and worldwide distribution rights into account.

The producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch, or treatment, and present it to potential financiers. If the pitch is successful, the film receives a "green light", meaning someone offers financial backing: typically a major film studio, film council, or independent investor. The parties involved negotiate a deal and sign contracts. Once all parties have met and the deal has been set, the film may proceed into the pre-production period. By this stage, the film should have a clearly defined marketing strategy and target audience.

Pre-production[link]

In pre-production, every step of actually creating the film is carefully designed and planned. The production company is created and a production office established. The production is storyboarded and visualized with the help of illustrators and concept artists. A production budget is drawn up to plan expenditures for the film. For major productions, insurance is procured to protect against accidents.

The producer hires a crew. The nature of the film, and the budget, determine the size and type of crew used during filmmaking. Many Hollywood blockbusters employ a cast and crew of hundreds, while a low-budget, independent film may be made by a skeleton crew of eight or nine (or fewer). These are typical crew positions:

• The director is primarily responsible for the storytelling, creative decisions and acting of the film.
• The assistant director (AD) manages the shooting schedule and logistics of the production, among other tasks. There are several types of AD, each with different responsibilities.
• The casting director finds actors to fill the parts in the script. This normally requires that actors audition.
• The location manager finds and manages film locations. Most pictures are shot in the controllable environment of a studio sound stage but occasionally, outdoor sequences call for filming on location.
• The production manager manages the production budget and production schedule. They also report, on behalf of the production office, to the studio executives or financiers of the film.
• The director of photography (DoP) is the cinematographer who supervises the photography of the entire film
• The director of audiography (DoA) is the audiographer who supervises the audiography of the entire film. For productions in the Western world this role is also known as either sound designer or supervising sound editor.^[2]

• The production sound mixer is the head of the sound department during the production stage of filmmaking. They record and mix the audio on set - dialogue, presence and sound effects in mono and ambience in stereo.^[3][4] They work with the boom operator, Director, DoA, DoP, and First AD.

• The sound designer creates the aural conception of the film,^[5] working with the supervising sound editor. On some productions the sound designer plays the role of a director of audiography.
• The composer creates new music for the film. (usually not until post-production)
• The production designer creates the visual conception of the film, working with the art director.^[5]
• The art director manages the art department, which makes production sets
• The costume designer creates the clothing for the characters in the film working closely with the actors, as well as other departments.
• The make up and hair designer works closely with the costume designer in addition to create a certain look for a character.
• The storyboard artist creates visual images to help the director and production designer communicate their ideas to the production team.
• The choreographer creates and coordinates the movement and dance - typically for musicals. Some films also credit a fight choreographer.

Production[link]

A director performing dual roles as director and camera operator gives instructions during the filming of a scene.

In lol production, the video production/film is created and shot. More crew will be recruited at this stage, such as the property master, script supervisor, assistant directors, stills photographer, picture editor, and sound editors. These are just the most common roles in filmmaking; the production office will be free to create any unique blend of roles to suit the various responsibilities possible during the production of a film.

A typical day's shooting begins with the crew arriving on the set/location by their call time. Actors usually have their own separate call times. Since set construction, dressing and lighting can take many hours or even days, they are often set up in advance.
The grip, electric and production design crews are typically a step ahead of the camera and sound departments: for efficiency's sake, while a scene is being filmed, they are already preparing the next one.

While the crew prepare their equipment, the actors are wardrobed in their costumes and attend the hair and make-up departments. The actors rehearse the script and blocking with the director, and the camera and sound crews rehearse with them and make final tweaks. Finally, the action is shot in as many takes as the director wishes. Most American productions follow a specific procedure:

The assistant director (AD) calls "picture is up!" to inform everyone that a take is about to be recorded, and then "quiet, everyone!" Once everyone is ready to shoot, the AD calls "roll sound" (if the take involves sound), and the production sound mixer will start their equipment, record a verbal slate of the take's information, and announce "sound speed" when they are ready. The AD follows with "roll camera", answered by "speed!" by the camera operator once the camera is recording. The clapper, who is already in front of the camera with the clapperboard, calls "marker!" and slaps it shut. If the take involves extras or background action, the AD will cue them ("action background!"), and last is the director, telling the actors "action!".

A take is over when the director calls "cut!", and camera and sound stop recording. The script supervisor will note any continuity issues and the sound and camera teams log technical notes for the take on their respective report sheets. If the director decides additional takes are required, the whole process repeats. Once satisfied, the crew moves on to the next camera angle or "setup," until the whole scene is "covered." When shooting is finished for the scene, the assistant director declares a "wrap" or "moving on," and the crew will "strike," or dismantle, the set for that scene.

At the end of the day, the director approves the next day's shooting schedule and a daily progress report is sent to the production office. This includes the report sheets from continuity, sound, and camera teams. Call sheets are distributed to the cast and crew to tell them when and where to turn up the next shooting day. Later on, the director, producer, other department heads, and, sometimes, the cast, may gather to watch that day or yesterday's footage, called dailies, and review their work.

With workdays often lasting 14 or 18 hours in remote locations, film production tends to create a team spirit. When the entire film is in the can, or in the completion of the production phase, it is customary for the production office to arrange a wrap party, to thank all the cast and crew for their efforts.

Post-production[link]

Here the video/film is assembled by the video/film editor. The modern use of video in the filmmaking process has resulted in two workflow variants: one using entirely film, and the other using a mixture of film and video.

This is the final stage, where the film is released to cinemas or, occasionally, to consumer media (DVD, VCD, VHS, Blu-ray) or direct download from a provider. The film is duplicated as required for distribution to cinemas. Press kits, posters, and other advertising materials are published and the film is advertised and promoted.

Film distributors usually release a film with a launch party, press releases, interviews with the press, press preview screenings, and film festival screenings. Most films have a website. The film plays at selected cinemas and the DVD typically is released a few months later. The distribution rights for the film and DVD are also usually sold for worldwide distribution. The distributor and the production company share profits.

Independent filmmaking[link]

Filmmaking also takes place outside of the mainstream and is commonly called independent filmmaking. Since the introduction of DV technology, the means of production have become more democratized. Filmmakers can conceivably shoot and edit a film, create and edit the sound and music, and mix the final cut on a home computer. However, while the means of production may be democratized, financing, traditional distribution, and marketing remain difficult to accomplish outside the traditional system. In the past, most independent filmmakers have relied on film festivals to get their films noticed and sold for distribution. However, the Internet has allowed for relatively inexpensive distribution of independent films. As a result several companies have emerged to assist filmmakers in getting independent movies seen and sold via mainstream internet marketplaces, oftentimes adjacent to popular Hollywood titles. With internet movie distribution, independent filmmakers who fail to garner a traditional distribution deal now have the ability to reach global audiences.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Filmmaking

• Audiography
• Cinematic techniques
• Cinematography
• Director of audiography aka Sound Director, Director of Sound
• Film crew
• Film director
• Film editing
• Film producer
• Film school
• Film studies
• Film
• First look deal
• List of film-related topics
• Movie production incentives in the United States
• Post-production
• Pre-production
• Screenplay
• Screenwriter
• Television studies

References[link]

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008)

• Campbell, Drew: Technical Film and TV for Nontechnical People. Allworth Communications 2002.

External links[link]

Wikibooks has more on the topic of Filmmaking

• Filmmaking at the Open Directory Project

Wikibooks[link]

• Movie Making Manual

Wikiversity[link]

Wikiversity has learning materials about Filmmaking

• Wikiversity Courses in Filmmaking

Jeffrey Schwarz (born 1969) is President & CEO of Automat Pictures, a Los Angeles based entertainment company specializing in the production of studio EPKs (electronic press kits), Blu-ray and DVD content, original television programming, and documentary feature films.

Since the company's founding in 2000, he has produced content for major studio releases for directors such as Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Jonathan Demme, Ron Howard, Sam Mendes, Wes Craven, Rob Reiner, Joe Dante, Barry Sonnenfeld, Adam Shankman, Paul Verhoeven, John Carpenter, Chris Columbus (filmmaker), the Coen Brothers, Sidney Lumet, and many more. Jeffrey's documentary People Like Us: Making Philadelphia, premiered at the 2003 San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Schwarz also executive produced Whether You Like It Or Not: The Story of Hedwig, (Hedwig and the Angry Inch (musical)) which enjoyed a run at film festivals around the world. "No Day But Today: The Story of Rent (musical)" was featured on the DVD release of that musical's feature film adaptation, Rent (film).

In 2010, Automat Pictures provided exclusive backstage content for the 82nd Academy Awards produced by Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic.

Television productions include Starz (TV channel)'s "Sex and the Cinema," a look at sexuality on film, "In the Gutter," a history of the gross-out movie, "Hitchcocked!," a tribute to the artistry of Alfred Hitchcock, and "Shooting the Police: Cops on Film." For the Independent Film Channel he produced Reservoir Dogs Revisited, a celebration of Quentin Tarantino's classic, and Still Swingin, a tribute to the indie classic Swingers, as well as several episodes of HBO First Look.

Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story, about the legendary Hollywood showman, premiered at the 2007 American Film Institute's AFIFest and was awarded the Audience Award for Best Documentary among many other festival honors. It was released as part of the William Castle box set in 2009 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and in 2011 was released as a stand-alone Special Edition DVD. It made its television premiere on The Documentary Channel.

In 2008, Jeffrey premiered the GayVN award winning feature documentary Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon, a portrait of 1970s adult film star Jack Wrangler. It premiered at 2008's Newfest and is distributed by TLA Releasing. It frequently airs on Logo (TV channel).

Schwarz's latest feature documentary is HBO Documentary Films' "Vito," about the life of Vito Russo, gay activist, film scholar, and author of The Celluloid Closet. It premiered at the 2011 New York Film Festival and made its television debut on HBO in July, 2012.

Future projects include feature documentaries on the lives of Divine ("I Am Divine") and Tab Hunter ("Tab Hunter Confidential"). Schwarz is also in development on Planet Kuchar, a narrative biopic about underground filmmaking legends George Kuchar and Mike Kuchar.

A New York native, Jeffrey is a graduate of the SUNY Purchase Film Department, where he produced Al Lewis in the Flesh, a profile of Grampa Al Lewis, octogenarian star of TV's The Munsters. This film observes the American pastime of celebrity adulation and led to Jeffrey's on-going interest in producing films about popular culture and Americana. His first job in the film industry was as an apprentice editor on The Celluloid Closet, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s film adaptation of Vito Russo’s seminal book.

External links[link]

• Automat Pictures official site
• Jeffrey Schwarz at the Internet Movie Database
• "I Am Divine" official site
• "I Am Divine" Facebook page
• "Vito" official site
• "Vito" Facebook page
• Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon official site
• Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon Facebook page
• "Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story" official site
• "Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story" Facebook page

References[link]

• Jeffrey Schwarz bio

Prakash Jha
Prakash Jha with Deepika Padukone at the press announcement of Aarakshan
Born	(1952-02-27) February 27, 1952 (age 60) West Champaran, Bihar, India
Occupation	producer, director, screenwriter
Years active	1976- present
Spouse	Deepti Naval(1985-2002)[1]
Awards	1985: National Film Award for Best Feature Film: Damul (1985) 1985: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie: Damul (1985) 2004:National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues: Gangaajal (2003) 2006: National Film Award for Best Screenplay: Apaharan (2005) 2006:Filmfare Best Dialogue Award: Apaharan (2005) 1984: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film: Faces After The Storm (1984)[2] 1987: National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film: Kudiattam[3] 1988: National Film Award for Best Costume Design: Parinati 1988: National Film Award for Best Industrial Documentary: Looking Back 2002: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film: Sonal[4] 1983: Best Documentary of the year: Faces After The Storm (1983)

Prakash Jha (Hindi: प्रकाश झा, born 27 February 1952) is an Indian film producer-director-screenwriter, who is most known for his political and socio-political films such as Damul (1984), Mrityudand (1997), Gangaajal (2003), Apaharan (2005) and multistarrer hit movie Raajneeti (2010). He is also the maker of National Film Award winning documentaries like, Faces After The Storm (1984) and Sonal (2002).

He now runs a production company, Prakash Jha Productions.^[5]Prakash Jha, owns the P&M Mall in Patna.

Biography[link]

Early life and education[link]

Prakash Jha was born and raised raised at his family's farm in Baraharwa, Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar, India. He did his schooling from Sainik School Tilaya,^[6] Koderma district and Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Bokaro Steel City (now in Jharkhand). Later, he joined Ramjas College, Delhi University to do B.Sc (Hons) in Physics; though he left studies after one year,^[7] and decided to go to Bombay and become a painter, though while he was preparing for J.J. School of Arts, he happen to witness the shooting of the film Dharma and got hooked on to filmmaking.

Soon he joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune in 1973, to do a course in editing, though midway through it, the institution was closed for while, due to student agitation, so he came to Bombay, and started working, and never went back to complete the course.^[8]

Personal Life[link]

Prakash was at one time married to actress Deepti Naval with whom he has an adopted daughter Disha.^[9][10]

Career[link]

While still midway through his course, he started working on films independently, in 1974,^[11] and made his first documentary, Under the Blue in 1975, and continued to do so for next 8 years.^[7]

During this period he made some highly politically charged documentaries, like the one of 'Bihar Sharif riots', titled, Faces After Storm (1984), which received considerable attention, as it was banned within 4–5 days of its released^[8] though later it won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film for the year.

Finally, he made his debut, as a feature film director, Hip Hip Hurray in 1983, scripted by Gulzar and starring, Raj Kiran and Deepti Naval as leads.^[12] Next came, the film he received most recognition with, Damul (1984), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie in 1985. The film was based on the bonded labour issue in Bihar.

In 1986, he directed, Parinati, based on the story by Vijaydan Detha.^[13]

Over the years he has made over 25 documentaries, nine feature films, two television features and three television series.^[14][15]

In 2010, he directed Raajneeti, which was a contemporary take on the epic, Mahabharat. It starred Ajay Devgan, Manoj Bajpai, Naseeruddin Shah, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Rampal, Nana Patekar and Ranbir Kapoor and was a critical and commercial success. His next venture was Aarakshan which starred Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan Deepika Padukone and Prateik Babbar.^[16] Currently,Prakash Jha is diecting film Chakravyuh starring Abhay Deol, Manoj Bajpai, Kabir Bedi, Esha Gupta and Arjun Rampal.^{[17][18][19][20]} His second film Satyagrah will star Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn.^[21]

Politics[link]

Prakash Jha contested and lost election to the Lok Sabha from his native Champaran in 2004. He again lost election to the Lok Sabha in 2009 as Lok Janashakti Party candidate from West Champaran.^[22][23][24]

Social initiatives[link]

For the last five years Prakash Jha has been seriously involved with development initiatives in Bihar. He has been spearheading growth in infrastructure, health care and vocational training facilities in the state through the NGO Anubhooti.

Anubhooti[link]

Prakash Jha is the chairman of Anubhooti, a registered society that has been working for cultural development , improvement of health care, disaster management and the upliftment of farmers and socio-economic backward people in Bihar since 1991.

Most recently, the organization has been working for flood survivors. After the Kosi flood on 18 August 2008, Anubhooti has provided complete relief to 6000 people since September 2008. Anubhooti has created a model village, Hindolwa village, for the flood affected and is working towards their complete rehabilitation.

Filmography[link]

Dialogue Writer[link]

• Gangaajal (2003)
• Mrityudand (1997)

Director[link]

• Hip Hip Hurrey (1984)
• Damul (1985)
• Parinati (1989)
• Bandish (1996)
• Mrityudand (1997)
• Dil Kya Kare (1999)
• Rahul (2001)
• Gangaajal (2003)
• Apaharan (2005)
• Raajneeti (2010)
• Aarakshan (2011)
• Chakravyuh(2012) (Pre-production)
• Satyagraha(2013) (Announced)
• Satsang (Announced)
• love story

Producer[link]

• Satyagrah (Announced)
• Aarakshan (2011)
• Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011)
• Turning 30 (2011)
• Raajneeti (2010)
• Khoya Khoya Chand (2007)
• Dil Dosti Etc (2007)
• Apaharan (2005)
• Gangaajal (2003)
• Mrityudand (1997)
• Bandish (1996)
• Parinati (1989)
• Damul (1985)

Editor[link]

• Gangaajal (2003)
• Dil Kya Kare (1999)
• Mrityudand (1997)

Story Writer[link]

• Apaharan (2005)
• Gangaajal (2003)
• Dil Kya Kare (1999)
• Damul (1985)

Awards[link]

National Film Awards[link]

• 1984: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film: Faces After The Storm (1984)^[2]
• 1985: National Film Award for Best Feature Film: Damul (1985)
• 1987: National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film: Kudiattam^[3]
• 1988: National Film Award for Best Costume Design: Parinati
• 1988: National Film Award for Best Industrial Documentary: Looking Back
• 2002: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film: Sonal^[4]
• 2004: National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues: Gangaajal (2003)^[25]
• 2006: National Film Award for Best Screenplay: Apaharan (2005)

Filmfare Awards[link]

• 1983: Best Documentary of the year: Faces After The Storm (1983)
• 1985: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie: Damul (1985)
• 2006:Filmfare Best Dialogue Award: Apaharan (2005)^[26]

Star Screen Awards[link]

• 2005: Star Screen Best Screenplay Award: Apaharan
• 2011: Star Screen Best Screenplay Award: Raajneeti

Other Awards[link]

• 1983: International Film Festival of India, Special Jury Award: Faces After The Storm
• 1984: All India Film Awards Association, Best Director: Hip Hip Hurray
• 1986: Baba Saheb Ambedkar Award, Social Understanding
• 1998: Screen Cinema Award, Best Actor in a Negative Role: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Screen Cinema Award, Best Dialogue: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Screen Cinema Award, Best Screenplay: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Zee Cine Award, Best Dialogue: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Zee Cine Award, Best Director: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Sansui Film Awards, Best Film (Critics Choice): Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Sansui Film Awards, Best Actress: Mrityudand - Death Sentence

International Awards[link]

• 1988: Presented as An Outstanding Film at the London Film Festival at the London Film Festival: Parinati - The Inevitable
• 1998: Special Jury Award, Cinema Tout Ecran, Geneva for Best Feature: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
• 1998: Audience Award, Best Feature, Bangkok Film Festival: Mrityudand - Death Sentence

International Acclaim[link]

• Damul - Bonded Until Death invited for competition and participation at Montreal, Berlin, Chicago, Moscow and several other festivals (1986–1987)
• Parinati - The Inevitable invited to several film festivals including the London International Film Festival (1988)
• Parampara - Traditions and Abhivyakti - An Expression represented India at the Festival of India in France and Japan.
• Mrityudand - Death Sentence invited to several festivals like London, Dublin, Melbourne, Riocine (Brazil), Bangkok, New York Human Rights Festival, Cinema Tout Ecran (Geneva) and others.
• Apaharan - Opening film of the Indian Film Festival in Israel (2005)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Prakash Jha at the Internet Movie Database
• Prakash Jha Productions website
• Interview - Director Prakash Jha at Rediff.com.